Report 25th October 2009

What a Meet!

After such a fantastic turnout at our Opening Meet yesterday at Bancyfelin, I have taken most of the day out to both recover and reflect upon the day. Riders and supporters came from far and wide to join us in a memorable days hunting, despite the weather.

Thanks yet again extend to our landowners for making the day possible and with whom our future depends.

The standard of turnout was fitting of the showring and the standard of ettiquite was encouraging. riders kept with the Field Master and were well mannered.

The days sport was good and credit goes to our huntsman Anthony Owen who presented fit, healthy and keen hounds whch gave teriffic music throughout the afternoon.

I feel it is fair to say we can, once again, look forward to an exciting season ahead.

Thanks to you all,

Byron.

Report 27th December 2008

After an imposed absence due to pneumonia, it was wonderful to be back in the saddle AND joined by so many of you! Yes, I can safely say that our Boxing Day Meet was a success, thanks to all our well wishers and riders.

Prior to the Meet, I was extremely concerned that due due the land being so water-logged that the meet would be a failure. Fortunately, due to the outstanding support of the landowners, particularly Mr Beswick of Pant Farm this was not to be, and a great day followed.

It was wonderful to be joined by old friends and some new ones, and I even manged to last the full day. I have missed you and would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Mike Watts MFH, my joint master, for his support and managing sinsle handedly during my absence. Thanks also to those who took time to visit in hospital and for the messages I recieved during my illness.

Anyway enough of that lets get on with the season!

Our Childrens Meet will be held on the 29th at the Fox and Hounds, Bancyfelin, adults are more than welcome, then the big one! Horse and Hound magazine are with us for New Years Day. I expect as always that this will be our biggest meet of the season. There is nothing like the atmosphere in the town centre on this day. See you there.......

Compliments of the season and happy hunting,

Byron John MFH.

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Report 27th October 2008

After such a long wet and awful summer, I am pleased that the season has now begun.

We have a few changes to anounce. Mark Davies has decided to stand down this season and we wish him well for the future. Mike Watts and myself will carry on as usual in our Masters roles. Norman Evans has taken up the vacant Chairmans post and we welcome him to this role. Norman will be assisted by Terry Gibbard-Jones as Vice Chairman a role I have recently vacated to concentrate on the Mastership.

Autumn hunting was undertaken on foot as the ground was so wet. This season sees the introduction of many young hounds which will take our pack forwards for seasons ahead. Anthony has worked hard and the pack look exceptionally well.

The Opening Meet was well attended by both mounted followers and well wishers. Support came from as far away as Sunderland, Monmouth and our regulars from Port Talbot, Neath and Swansea. A big thank you is extended to you all. Year on year growth is so encouraging, also is the tremendous support we continue to receive from our landowners especially as the ground is currently so wet. Scent was poor but the hounds worked hard and picked up the laid trail, and a good day was enjoyed.

Our second meet at Laugharne was another good day, again the weather went our way and the extra ground at the start ensured a good day was enjoyed by all. The standard of turnout at both meets has been exceptionally good, good enough for the showring actually, keep it up

Thank you to everyone old or new who has turned out at these meets, to those of you who have not been out yet - hurry up!  

See you next week at The Bluebell

Happy hunting,

Byron

Report  1st December 2007

With the season now fully underway after a sudden start following the Foot and Mouth Restrictions, I wish to welcome our recent new members to Carmarthenshire Hunt and thank our existing members for their continued support.

As always our landowners and farmers have been so supportive given the sudden start to the season during what is another testing and difficult time for many in the farming industry. At just a weeks notice our Opening Meet went ahead and was once again a success. our huntsman and hounds did an excellant job considering the restrictions they faced during FMD.

The lifting of the restrictions, although unexpected, were a great boost to the Hunt. The Opening Meet saw Martin Walters our new 'whipper-in' start his new role. Whilst my Joint-Master Mike Watts has been on fine form this season, unfortunately our Joint Master Mark Davies had a nasty run in with a bull at the start of the season and is still recovering as the bull won! Any thoughts Mark had of becoming a Matador have now been dashed!! Hopefully he will be able to resume hunting soon.

During the summer, hounds were drafted in from other packs to boost our own and we are extremely grateful to the following for their kind help:-

Mr Peter Astle(Huntsman) and the Masters of The Croome & West Warwickshire.

Mr Otis Ferry (Master) The South Shropshire.

 

These hounds have been a great boost to our pack and will enhance our breeding programme.

The Opening Meet and subsequent meets have seen increased numbers of visitors, many of whom have continued to visit and travel quite a distance to hunt with us, from as far afield as Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot. I hope they are enjoying themselves as much as we enjoy their company.

This season has also seen an increase in the number of young riders out with us, this is pleasing as these young riders are the future of our Hunt.

Social events continue to play an important part of our fundraising and our commitee have arranged some great events. Our Farmers Ball at Llanboidy was a great success and enjoyed by all, special thanks to Carolyn, Liz, Annette and Eluned for their hard work. The 'Promise Auction' raised another staggering amount and was largely due to Annettes hard work.

To close on a bright note, thank heavens for common sense and the Appeal Courts descision to overturn Tony Wrights conviction under the Hunting Act.

Happy Hunting

Regards,

BYRON

Report September 2007

Now that the summer is almost over it is usually a time to prepare for the coming season, however due to the Foot & Mouth epidemic we are under DEFRA restrictions. We can only hope for a quick solution.

Drawing from the positives of the summer, our attendances at events such as the Welsh Game Fair, Llandyfaelog Show and displaying hounds at Builth Wells have raised or profile. the support for hunting was obvious and remains as strong as ever.

Our appearances at the numerous Inter Hunt Events were exciting, our results being a third at Tack Farm Hereford, second at Bedwellty and first at Aberaeron Festival.

The Squad throughout the season consisted of:-

Martin Walters - Fella, Graham Smith - Herman, Amy Smith - Woody, Byron John - Marcopolo, Jimmy the Jockey - Herman, Donald Edwards - Liebsham. Alan (Crazy Al) Whitmore was Chef d'equippe.

Hopefully, we can retain the team for next season as this was our first together and we improved throughout the season.

Our ride at Pembrey was an enjoyable occaisionand another good fundraiser.

regards,

BYRON.

Report July 2007

I feel it is now time to say that the problems the hunt faced last year, coming so close to this historic hunt becoming the first to fold post-ban, are well and truly behind us! I also feel that now is the time to close that chapter in the hunt's history 'once and for all' and reflect on the many positives gained over the last season:- These postives began at an EGM called to consider the folding of the hunt, I only attended to voice a concern being 'new' to the county! I came away being part of the newly formed commitee which faced a task far worse than climbing Everest over the coming weeks. That commitee has worked so hard, pulled together, remained intact and achieved what appeared to be impossible from the outset. It is this kind of resolve and commitment that will ensure that hunting WILL survive, despite this unjust ban, for future generations to enjoy. Myself, Mark Davies and Mike Watts were appointed acting Masters four days before the Opening Meet, it was both an honour and a privelege to accept this post but much was to be done if we were to hunt that season. I am so lucky to stand alongside these guys because they are the best! Fortunately, we were introduced to Anthony Owen by Lee Gwyther (Lee had stood in as huntsman previously) and Anthony accepted the post of amateur huntsman and has proved to be a more than popular choice. Despite the difficult circumstances anthony has remained both proffesional and patient and I am pleased that he has now accepted the post as a permanent position and is now resident at the kennel house and doing a 'sterling' job. Of course along with Anthony come Adele and their son Carwyn who aims one day to take his father's job, already excelling at the hunting horn! Mark, Mike and myself each took on different roles, with us all bring these roles together, united and taking things forward with the commitee's support and enthusiasm behind us.Personally, if someone had told me twelve months ago that I would accept a role of Master, Vice-chairman and do a season's field-mastering in a first season with a hunt in a county new to me I would have questioned their sanity! With huge support afforded to me by all around me that is exactly what has happened and I owe thanks to all concerned - it has been terriffic! Support has come from all angles, people both past and present. Thanks is also due to Jacky Thomas and the support of the MFHA throughout this period. The hunt's success has come with the continued support of the farmers and landowners within our hunt country, without this support we would have folded. Carmathenshire enjoys some beautiful countryside and the landowner's support has been amazing and now is an appropriate time to say thank you to you all. As the season progressed we were lucky in having three riders come forward as whips, these are:- Graham Smith, Rhodri Wilkins (our hearthrob treasurer!) and Dave Fulcher. these guys play a vital and often unappreciated role in a days hunting and have done so well in their first season. I have ribbed them mercilessly on times especially when I call them part-timers and see 'antis' abusing them, but there again Rhodri tells me abuse can be fun! Thanks guys. Meets went well and everybody seemed to enjoy with a certain air of fun each day. Some meets were more symbolic than others such as Opening Meet, Boxing Day, the huge crowd of wellwishers New Year's Day. February's Children's Meet at Cappodoccia was one for me as it were my son Bradley's first meet on his pony led by his Mum at just three and a half! I am determined he should have the same opportunity to hunt as I did in my youth. The season ended for me on a sadder note however. Jake, my loyal hunting partner of some ten seasons, passed away with a sudden heart attack. During this my dependable horse never let me down coping so well in sometimes difficult circumstances, always keeping his field-master upfront, standing patiently when needed, never spilling my fask, never refusing a jump (even if it meant crashing through!) and now is a time to confess- Jake NEVER lost hounds- I always followed his gaze and the direction of those big ears and he was always right! It will be with certain tear that I will lead this years team into the main ring at The Royal Welsh for the Inter Hunt Relay but I am sure he will be there in spirit. Thank you Jake. On a brighter note, Inter-Hunt competitions are upon us again and more riders are putting themselves forward (who knows I may get to retire from it soon) and if you are at the Royal Welsh next week, we are on Monday at 17.30 and display hounds at 13.00 so a big cheer please! Autumn is nearly upon us and I know many of us cant wait. Until then we are planning a few activities so do keep a look out on the 'whats on' page and hopefully we'll see you soon. Our members and followers make it all worthwhile and in putting up with me have been patient, supportive and most of all FUN! Thank you all for last season's support and I cannot wait to do it all again next season! Till then goodbye, BYRON